The Superior Express -

Investigation is continuing this week into a house fire that appears to have claimed the lives of two Red Cloud residents last Tuesday.

Earlier this week, Sara Bockstadter, Webster County attorney, said autopsies had been conducted but the results had not been received. However, she said the fire did not appear to be of a suspicious nature.

When the Red Cloud Fire Department responded to a house fire on March 3, two occupants were found in the structure. Harold R. Kirkpatrick, Jr. 58, died in the fire at 930 N Cedar Street. Carla Blide, 64, was moved from the house to the Webster County Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The Nebraska Fire Marshal’s office investigated and the determined the fire appears to be accidental in nature. It was probably caused by smoking materials igniting furniture.

Though damaged, the structure appears to have survived the fire.